This week in SA politics

Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as South Africa's new president on Thursday. Picture: Cindy Waxa/ANA

Johannesburg - From Jacob Zuma’s resignation to Cyril Ramaphosa sworn in as a new President of the Republic of South Africa, Sthembiso Sithole wraps ups some of the stories that made headlines:

After a long wait on whether Jacob Zuma will resign, on Wednesday evening he finally gave in. The former president addressed the media at Union Buildings in Pretoria. The address was broadcasted live in many television and radio channels.

The 75-year-old Zuma said he disagreed with the way the ANC had shoved him towards an early exit after the election of Cyril Ramaphosa as party president in December, but would accept its orders.

"I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect," Zuma said.

"Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC," he said.

Motion of No Confidence

On Wednesday, the ANC announced that their MPs would vote with opposition parties in support of a motion of no confidence against Zuma and that the Speaker of Parliament had agreed to move the motion, which was originally scheduled to be debated next week, forward to Thursday.

The ANC gave Zuma until midnight on Wednesday to respond to the recall letter, otherwise the debate on the motion of no confidence was set to commence at 2pm on Thursday as agreed to by all political parties.

Defiant Zuma speaks out

After hours of journalists camping out Union Buildings on Wednesday, Zuma finally spoke out. In an interview with the SABC, Zuma said he had done nothing wrong and was never told the reasons for his recall.

"No one has told me what I have done wrong. No one has been able to furnish what I've done. If I've done something wrong, there are processes within the ANC. I found it very unfair to me that this issue must be raised all the time," Zuma said.

The president was responding to the ANC NEC's decision to recall him if he did not resign by midnight on Wednesday.

He stated that he disagreed with the decision of the ANC to recall him, and warned that it would plunge the country into a “crisis”.

Zuma also said that "No life should be lost in my name. And also the ANC should not be divided in my name."

Hawks raid Gupta residence

The Hawks - the elite crime busters in South Africa - on Wednesday morning raided the Saxonwold home of the Guptas, spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said.

A police officer at the compound blocked off access to Saxonwold Drive, saying: "This is a crime scene."

The Gupta family are at the centre of an ongoing state capture probe in which they allegedly used undue influence to score lucrative contracts from state-owned enterprises. They have a close relationship with former president Zuma and his family.

Ajay, who is said to be on the run, is wanted in connection with corruption charges emanating from investigations into the Vrede Dairy Farm Project has been declared a “fugitive from justice”.

Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said outside the Bloemfontein Regional Court on Thursday that the eldest Gupta brother had failed to hand himself over to the police as agreed and was now considered a fugitive.

“We are looking for Ajay. We are not negotiating with him. We contacted his lawyers yesterday (Wednesday),” said Mulaudzi after seven of the eight people facing numerous charges relating to alleged multimillion-rand financial transactions at the dairy farm were granted bail.

The seven accused that appeared yesterday were granted bail ranging from R10 000 to R200 000 and were ordered to surrender their passports and abide by the reporting conditions to police that they were given.

Cyril Ramaphosa sworn in as President of the Republic of South Africa

On Thursday, Ramaphosa was sworn into the office of the Presidency by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng about three hours after he was elected as President by Parliament to fill in the vacancy left by former President Jacob Zuma.

In a room filled by Ministers and their deputies, MPs, ANC NEC members, Ramaphosa swore to uphold the rule of the country and received a rousing round of applause from those in attendance.